Pre-registration, Covid precautions required
Much of western Iowa is currently under a moderate to severe drought. The drought conditions are causing major concerns for both crop and livestock producers. To help address those concerns, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host 10 free drought meetings.
Meetings in counties contiguous to Greene are planned as follows:
August 4, 5:30 pm – Swan Lake State Park (22676 Swan Lake Trail, Carroll). Contact the Carroll County Extension office to pre-register at 712-792-2364.
August 5, 9:30 am – Dallas County Fairgrounds (28057 Fairground Rd, Adel). Contact the Dallas County Extension office to pre-register at 515-993-4281.
August 5, 5:30 pm – Boone County Fairgrounds (1601 Industrial Park Rd, Boone). Contact the Boone County Extension office to pre-register at 515-432-3882.
August 7, 9:30 am – Greene County Fairgrounds (601 E. Lincoln Way, Jefferson). Contact the Greene County Extension office to pre-register at 515-386-2138.
August 7, 5:30 pm – Guthrie County Fairgrounds (408 W. State St., Guthrie Center). Contact the Guthrie County Extension office to pre-register at 641-747-2276.
Meeting topics and speakers include crop growth and development under drought conditions covered by Mike Witt, Meaghan Anderson, Paul Kassel or Aaron Saeugling, Extension field agronomists; feeding drought damaged crops, including issues with drought silage, and other cattle management considerations by Erika Lundy, Beth Doran or Chris Clark, Extension beef specialists; and crop insurance considerations covered by Steve Johnson, Gary Wright, Patrick Hatting or Tim Christensen, Extension farm management specialists, or local FSA office staff.
Meetings will last approximately 90 minutes. Starting approximately 45 minutes before each meeting, producers will have the opportunity to bring five corn stalk samples for a quick nitrate assessment conducted on site either prior to the start of the meeting or after the meeting. Producers are encouraged to sample corn stalks from multiple, representative areas of the field to accurately estimate conditions.
Due to Covid-19 and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s commitment to doing its best to keep the community safe, certain restrictions and requests will be required to attend the meetings. Please do not attend if you are sick or have been exposed to anyone in the past 14 days who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Most meetings will be held at outdoors venues and social distancing requirements will apply. Attendees should bring their own chairs as seating may be limited and to help with maintaining social distance. Attendees are strongly encouraged to wear face covering when in the presence of others and unable to maintain a six-foot physical distance. Pre-registration is requested at least two days prior to each meeting by contacting the local county Extension office of that meeting to allow staff to prepare the venue. If pre-registration is not completed, walk-in attendees will be required to provide contact tracing information at the meeting or will be unable to attend.
Those not comfortable with attending the in-person meetings they are welcome to join the statewide webinar series: http://www.aep.iastate.edu/drought/. Additional drought resources can be found at www.extension.iastate.edu/topic/recovering-disasters,
Persons who want more information about the meetings can contact Mike Witt at 641-430-2600 or witt@iastate.edu.
Meeting sponsors include the Iowa Corn Growers Association.
